Sheet feeding apparatus



12 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 3, 1932. E. R. KAST SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed March s, 1928 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 NNN VENTOR ATTORNEYS E. R. KAST Filed March 8, 1928 SHEET FEEDI NG APPARATUS May 3, 1932.

E. R. KAST SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS May 3, 1932.

Filed March 8, 1928 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jam ATTORNEYS EE EQ 1932. E. R. KAST 1,856,190

SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed March 8, 1928 12 sheets sheet 4 ATTORNEYS May 3, 1932. E. R. KAST SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed March 8', 1928 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 n wi INVENTOR ATTORNEYS May 3, 1932.

E. R. KAST SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed March 8, 1928 ATTORNEYS May 3, 1932, R -r 1,856,190

SHEET FEEDI NG APPARATUS Filed March 8, 1928 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 May 3, 1932. E. R. KAST' SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS l2 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filepl March 8; 1928 INVENTOR /g W ATTORNEYS May 3, 1932.

E. R. KAST SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed March 8, 1928 INVENTOR rm ATIORNEYS 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 May 3, 1932. E. R. KAST SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed March 8, 1928 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR v ATTORNEYS May 3, 1932. R KAST 1,856,190

sflE'ET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed March 8, 1928 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 ENTOR Gaul... 42 fuzz,

ATTORNEYS May 3, 1932. E. R. KAST SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 F'iled March 8, 1928 ATTORNEYS 'rmeam amz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

anwm n. mm, or ream. mvna, New YORK, as'szenoa "r Duran. roman courmg or unw roan, N. Y, a comm-non or new YOBK snmrr resume arrmrus Applicatiop fled Ian-ch 8; 1928. Serial Io. tea us.

The present invention is an improvement in what is known as continuous feeders, that is to say feeders in which the sheets are fed from a bankin fanned-out relation, which I bank can be continuously replenished without stoping the operation of the machine. The a vantages of such a continuous feeder are that the pile can be continuously replenl ily fed to the press or folder than is the case ished without stopping the operation of the 10 machine, when applied to a printing press or other device; it occupies less floor space, and when feeding tacky stock, that is, stock that has had one or more colors applied thereto, the separate sheets can be more readwhere the sheets are stacked in piles. This is due to the fact that in the continuous feeder the replenished sheets are preliminaril separated when loaded on the upper feed board and also because in the feedin off position that act to se arate an wheels is objectionable for the reason that .it

on the lower feed-hoard there is only a limited number of super-imposed-sheets.

In the continuous feeders heretofore used there is generally emplo ed combin wheels forward t e sheet to the drop ro ers. The use of these combing is necessary to adjust them to en age the sheets between the printed matter in order to prevent smearing or smutting of the stock,

and frequently the color applied to the sheet is so solidly'distributed that there is no blank space for engagement by the combing wheels. In addition, there are gradesof stock which will inevitably be marred by the action of the combing wheels. Furthermore, difiiculty has been encountered in properly maintaining the forward feed of sheets of varying characteristics, some of which under the action of thecombing wheels move forwardl more freely and rap- 7 idly than others and ence either-automatic or other means or regulating the tension on a ing t cknesses and characteristics to accuthe rear edge of the nned-out bank is necessary. This" condition made it difiicult wlth this t of machine actin on stock of varyrately and certainly feed ofi only one sheet at a time.

. g 7 Furthermore, with feeders of this type it is out bank under'thev combi feed ofi means.

extremely diflicult and at times impossible v to feed sheets whose len h in the line of feed is considerably greater t an its width, for exam le, twice as reat. .The -reason for this is t 'at it is difiicu t to adjust thef-cut-out mechanism to control the combing of the sheets on account of the fact that the resistance between the uppermost sheet andthe sheet thereunder is so great. Feeders of this type have heretofore required so-called cut-out mechanism for raising the combing wheels off of the bank of paper being fed, the cutv out mechanism being operated bythe forward edge of the sheet engaging the cut-out pendulum. This pendulum through connections of greater or less complexityoperates to automatically raise the combing wheels.

two sheets but they would fed forward to the drop rollers.

Furthermore, in feeders of this ty e the feed of the bank is determined by the ength "of the comb and the period of engagement of the combing wheels with the bank, This involves the objection that com licated mechanism is required to advance t e bank throu h this control. a

A' rther objection that has beenhereto- 'fore encountered in connection witlrcon- 'tinuousfeeders is that it was necessary to maintain the fanned-out bank. under the combing wheels or other mechanism for feeding ofi thetopmost sheet'at a redetermined thickness, or to provide mean 'ing for variations in thickn' the anned- .The object of the 'presen nveiiti on is to retain all of the benefits of the-continuous t of feeder and at the same time eliminate al of-the objections heretofore noted. In

short, by the presentinvention, the sheets of.

broom n "eelsor other whatever size or dimensions will be accurately and certainly separated and fed one at a time whatever the quality or condition of the stock without any smearing or :smutting ofthe stock; and this is effected by a greatly simplified construction in which the cusing positively held against movement with the topmost sheet as the latter is being fed to the drop rollers. The feeding means for forwarding the sheet are of the suction type and as they have no sliding or-frictional engagement with the sheet, as was had by the combing wheels, the sheet, regardless of the condition orquality of the stock and whether printed or blank and of whatever size or dimensions, is picked up by the suction feeder and fed forwardly without injuring or marring, or smearing. or smutting.

This suction forwarding mechanism may be so constructed if desired or necessary that it will always aline the forward edge of each sheet in a predetermined alinement with respect to the drop rollers or other mechanism to which the sheet is being forwarded, and this is the case even though successive sheets might be out of alinement to a greater or lesser degree with the drop rollers. In-

' stead of controlling the forward feed of the bank by the means for feeding off the sheets,

this movement of the bank; is effected by a simple feeler that is positioned to engage the upper surface of 'the forward edge of the foremost advancing sheet. If the foremost sheet is not engaged by .the feeler the bank is forwarded-if it is engaged the bank i not forwarded.

Withrespect to the preliminary separation of the sheets of the fanned-out bank, it

is desirable that the sheets shall be-o erated.

on uniformly by the separatingmec anism and, to this end, -I provide a separating mechanism that engages the rear edge of'the topmost sheet with a predetermined pressure and at a predetermined -angle whatever the thickness of the bank under the separatingelements and whatever the condition of the I stock.

The. forwarding mechanism is preferably constituted by a pair of forwarding devices, one being located near each lateral margin of the sheet, and if. desired means may be provided for stopping the action of each or both of the forwarders when the advancing edge of the sheet has reached a predetermined point. By this construction'it will appreciated that one forwarder on one side of erably provided a tongue or plate provided with a recess that underlies the forward edge of the fanned-out bank- If a. sheet is interposed between the feeler and the tongue, the bank advancing means will not be operated, but if any sheet or sheets are not present under the feeler the same .will project into the recess in the tongue and this further movement of the feeler will operate through suitableconnections to advance the fannedout bank.

The invention will be more readily under-' stood by reference to the accompanying drawings, il ustrating ventive idea, and in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view, with parts "broken away, illustrating the improved I feeder;

one embodiment-of the in- Fig. 2 is a side elevation corresponding to I Figure 1; and Fig. 2a is a pulled out vlew shovsiing the means for controlling the feed P 3 Fig. 3 is a plan view with various parts omitted, showing particularly the driving connections to the separating mechanism and the air control conduits, and the adjustment of the separators both longitudinally and laterally;

Fig. 4 is; a perspective view illustrating the valve constructionfor controlling the air and suction conduit, and also portions of the drive mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 55, Fig. '2, showing particularly the separator mechanism and the means for mounting and adjusting the position of the same, and the means for forming the transverse valley in the fanned out bank;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the separators corresponding to Fig. 5;

' Fig. 7 is a detail perspective showing the mounting of the floating member or roller that engages the fanned-outbank of sheets;

Fig. 8 is a perspective detail showing the difi'erential drive or the pair of separators;

meansifor elevating oneof the separators manually;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing one of the sheet forwarders; and Fig. 11 is a Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic plan view show Fig. 9 is a sectional detail 'view showing nsaaieo f 3.

ing the manner in which the sheet is alined;

Figs. 14 and 15 are detail views showing the drop roller control;

,Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing the calipering 'mechamsm and associated parts;

Fig. 17 is an elevation, partly in section, corresponding to Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing the toggle arrangement for controlling the operation of the drop roller;

Fig. 19 is a perspective viewl-showing the inside of one of the side frames of thefeeder "with associated parts;

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of one of the tubes and associated means for effecting the iongitudinal adjustment of the separating mechanism;

Fig. 21 is a detail showing the swivel mounting of one end of the transverse bar on which the separators are carried;

Fig. 22 is a side elevation, partly in section,

showing the valve construction for controliing the air and suction and also pa t ofthe gearing for driving the separators; and

Fig. 23 is a front elevation corresponding to Fig. 22. w I

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts, the feed board and associated mechanism and the bank advancing means will first be described:

Feed boards, belts and bank advancing means,

Figs. 1,2,2a,3and5 On the usual or any customary supports 30 is mounted the main frame of' the feeder ineluding uprights or side frames. 31 and 32 at the forward end of the feeder and upright side-frames 33 and 34 at the rear of the feeder. Side-frames 31and 32 are connected by a hollow transverse tube 35 and a stay shaft 36. The rear frames 33 and 34 are connected by a roller shaft 37 stay rods 38 and 39, and roller shafts 40 and 41. The front and rear frames are connected by longitud'nal bars 42, and43. (Figs.'2 and 5.)

@arried by the tube 35 is a pl'tfl-alit of supports 44 on which the forward end 0 the upper feed board 33 is mounted and secured in any desired manner.

As here shown a channel ir0n45 is fastened to the underside of said feed hoard byscrews 46, and th'egcliannel iron and board is then secured to the supports 44 by screws 47. The rear end of the upper feed board is similarly mounted on the stay rod 39 through supports 48, channel iron 49 and screws 50 and 51. The lower feed board 52 is of the conventional type.

The belts that are associated with the upper feed boardare indicated by the numeral 53, as here shown four such belts being employed. These belts pass around a roller 54 suitably mounted in the forward end of the feed board and around the drum 55 at the rear'of the feed board, the upper reach, of

g 8 so that the handle ma -the belt engaging the upper surface of the feed board 33' as usual. A second series of belts 56 constitutes the movable throat through which the sheets pass from the upper to the lower feed board. These belts pas;

around a roller 57 carried in a swinging frame 58 pivoted at 59, which frame may be swung to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 when itis desired to open the throat. The belts 56 also pass around tightener roller 60 and around a'tube 61 mounted'on the stay shaft 41. Suitable tightening means are associated with this series of belts, such'as the spring 62, one end of which "is secured to a slidin rod 63 on which the roller 60 is carried, the other end of said spring being conmechanism of this or any suitable type is preferably provided for each belt 56 of this series.

A third series of belts is associated with I upper surface ofthe lower feed board 52,

and said belts pass around a series of rollers mounted on shaft 66 at the forward end of the feeder and around a series of rollers 67 carried by a tape-tightener mechanism 68 at the rear of the feeder.

The bank of sheets is advanced toward the i press or other device to be fed by suitable means including a sprocket wheel 69 mounted on shaft 66 around which passes a sprocket chain 70, said chain also passing around a sprocket wheel 71 mounted on a stud 72 car ried in frame 33. Compounded with sprock et wheel 71 is a spur gear 73 that meshes with an idler gear 74 which in turn meshes with a gear 75 that drives a lar e gear 76 carried on the drum 55. When t e shaft 66 is revolved the lower belts 65 will be positivel advanced and the drum 55 will be rotate gear 75. A clutch connection 79 is interosed between the handle-77 or disengaged. 1

The control of the feed of the fanned-out bank of sheetsis effected by means of a feeler 80 which is adjustable vertically. on an arm 81 carried on a shaft 82 having hearings in side frame 31and a bracket 83 positioned on the valve casing. The shaft 82 projects out- 'wardly through the frame 31 and carries a dependingjlink 84 which has a pin and slotconnection 85. with a dogv86 pivoted at-8,7 on the side frame 31. On the shaft 66 is'loosely mountgd a carrier 88 on which is pivoted a :nected to a hook member 64. An adjusting lit detent 89. On said shaft is also loosely mounted a pawl carrier 90 on which the pawl 91 is suitably pivoted. One end of a link 92 is connected to the upper end of the pawl carrier 90, and the other end of said link is connected to a rotating disc 93-mounted on cam shaft 94. A spring 95' (Fig. 1) is interposed between the carrier 88 and the carrier 90 and holds them separated, one end of said spring being connected to a pin 96 on the pawl carrier 90 and the opposite end of the spring being connected to a pin 97 on the detent carrier 88. Through the connections de-' scribed, the two carriers 88 and 90 reciprocate as a unit inthe normalor non-feeding position, that is to say when the pawl 91 is out of engagement with the ratchet 99. In the event that the feeler 80 fails to engage a sheet, said feeler passes through an opening 100 in a plate 101, and this further movement of the feeler causes a counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 82 which causes the nose of the dog 86, which theretofore has been riding on the upper surface of the detent 89, to engage the recess 102 in said detent, thus arresting the movement of the carrier 88. The movement of the carrier 90, however, continues, and as the carrier 90 moves toward the carrier 88 the pressure or expanding action of the spring 95 on the pawl 91 is relieved and thepawl 91 drops into engagement with the ratchet 99 and a feeding movement is imparted to said ratchet, thus moving forward the bank of fanned-out sheets. Excessive movement of the dog 86 ina clockwi'se direction (Figs. 1, 2 and 2a) is prevented by a lug 102' on carrier 88. The connection between the pawl 91, the carrier 90 and the carrier 88 whereby this release of the pawl is obtained so that it may engage the ratchet 99 under such conditions is as follows:

Projecting laterally from the pawl 91 is a pin 103 that passes through an elongated opening 104 in the carrier 90. This pin engages in the recess of a hook member 105 secured to or integral with the carrier 88. Inasmuch as the spring 95 normally tends to hold the members 88 and 90 apart, it will be seen that the pin 103 is held in an elevated position in the slot 104 by frictional engagement with the surface of the hook 105. When, however, the movement of the member 88 is arrested as before described, and the member 90 moves toward the left, as shown 5 in Fig. 2, and toward the carrier 88, the

sprin 'pressure on the pawl 91 is relieved and accordingly the pin 103 is no longer pressed against the recess in the hook 105 by the spring, and therefore the pawl 91 is permitted to drop into engagement with the ratchet. As soon as the feeler next engages av sheet,

theparts will automatically resume the positi'o n shown in Fig. 2, the pm 103 again assuming its elevated position andholding the pawl 91 out of engagement with the ratchet.

It will be seen that the feeler 80 is periodically elevated either when the nose of the dog 86 isriding on the upper surface of the detent 89, as well as when the nose of the dog 86 has engagedthe recess 102 of the detent, this elevation of the feeler 80 being efiected whenever the links 84 and 86 are moved toward the V left as seen in Fig. 2.

If desired, a second means for adjusting the position of the feeler 80 may be had through art-arm 106 mounted on the shaft 82 and having associated therewith an adjusting screw- 107 that passes through a bracket 108, a spring 109' being connected at one end to the arm 106 and at-its other end to the bracket Drive and sheet separating mechanism, F igs. 1-8 inclusive, 22 and 23 The power for driving the movable parts of the machine is derived from any suitable means, as from the press or folder to which they are attached, which is the customary and usual method. However, for the purposes of illustration, the power is shown as being derived from a motor 110 mounted on a base 111 on which is also mounted a pump 112 thereto a pinion 120 that meshes with a gear 121 mounted on the cam shaft 94. It is. from this cam shaft. through connections that will later be described, that the forwarder and valve mechanism is operated. On this cam shaft is mounted a pinion 122 that drives idler gears 123 and 124, the latter meshing with a gear 125 that is compoundedwith a bevel gear 126 that meshes with a corresponding bevel gear 127 mounted on alongitudinal shaft 128 that has bearing in a bracket 129 at one end and in a bracket 130 (Fig. 1') carried by the stay shaft 39. On this shaft 128 is keyed, near the rear end thereof, "a bevel gear 131 which meshes with a bevel gear 132 carried on a stud 133 carried bya bracket 134 that is mounted on a square bar 135. Compounded' with the bevel gear 132 is a second bevel gear 136 that meshes with corresponding bevel gears 137 and 138, the latter being pinned to shafts 139 and 140, said shafts having bearing in brackets 134*at' their adjacent ends andin brackets 141 and 142 at their remote ends, said brackets 141 and 142 beinganisms are preferably identicalin construc- 1,sso,ieo I tion, adjustment and operation, will only necessary to describe one ofthem. Each a corresponding bevel gear 149 mounted on a stub shaft 150 that is carried by a casing 151 secured to the upperbracket 143. Attheother end this stub shaft 150 carries a bevel gear 152 that meshes with a bevel gear 153on shaft 140. The lower end of the shaft 147.carries a bevel gear 154 that meshes with a beveLgear 155 on the cam shaft 156 of the separator unit. This cam shaft is mounted in depend ing. arms 157 and 158 projecting from the lower bracket 144. On said cam shaft 156 is mounted a second bevel gear 159 that drives the combing wheel 160 through ashaft 161 that carries a bevel gear 162 meshing with the bevel gear-159. The construction and operation of this combing wheel'is preferably a the same as that disclosed in Christophel operation of this mechanism for raising and fanned-out sheets, so that the operation of carried by shaft 182 onwhichthereismounted Patent No. 1,475,621. Likewise mounted on the cam shaft 156 is a cam 163'that operates to raise and lower the combing wheel 160. This elevation of the combing wheel by said cam is effected by means of a' lever 164 pivoted at 165, said lever engaging under a roller 166 carried by a pin 167 secured at one end to an arm 168 which is carried by the comb ing wheel arm 169. The construction and lowering the combing wheel is also preferably that described and claimed in Christophel Patent No. 1,475,621. There' is also carried by the cam shaft 156 a cam 170 that operates to raise and lower the foot clamp 171 throu h I suitable connections, as more particularly, escribed and shown in Christophel Patent No. 1,47 5,621. The sheet. pick-up device 172, which is preferabl of the suctlon type, is also controlled from t e lever 164. as morefully described and shown in Christophel Patent No. 1,475,621. In short the construction and o eration of the combing wheel, the foot c amp and the suction pick-up device are preferably of the type shown and described in Christophel Patent No. 1,47 5,621.

Loosely mounted on the cam shaft 156 for rotation thereon is a roller 173; fThis roller is I preferably of conical configuration, as shown in Fi 5 for effective cooperation the wedge s aped plate. I'M-that is inserted may engage.

under the lateral marginal extremityof Iffor any reason, as

tumm combing wheel ion is a straighten the to most sheet across said valle as indicat in dotted lines in Fig. 5. T e roller '17? is positioned rear'wardlyof the point at which the combing wheel 160 and the suction pick-up 172 engages the rear'edge of the topmost sheet, the action of said roller 173 and said wedge shaped member 174 being ef-- fective to provide the necessary valley on the rear edge of the topmost sheet at the point that the sheet is engaged by the combing wheel 160 and the suction pick-up 172.

By the construction described, it will be appreciated that all of the-sheet separati e ements will operate on the, pile of fanne out sheets regardless of thethmness or thickness of the pile. In other words, the comb ing roller 160, the suction pick-up device172 fanned-out sheets with the same efliclency and effect whether the fanned-out bank be comosed of few'sheets or man sheets; and this and the foot clamp 171 will engage the is due to the fact that the ower bracket 144 of the separator unit is a floating bracketand that the position of the various sheet separating elements is controlled by the roller 173 that floats on the fanned-out bank of sheets. It will be seen that if there are only a few sheets in the fannedmutbank, the roller 17 3 will lower with respect to the position that 'it wouldmssume if there weremany sheets under said roller. All of the operating parts of the sheet separating unit are carried by the lower bracket 144 that also carries the roller 173, this lower bracket 144 being connected to the relatively stationa upper spline shaft 147. Accordin ly the sheet separating elements will act on t e topmost sheet of the fanned-out bank in the same manner and with the same'efiect regardless of the bracket 143 through the rods an 146 and lot number tr sheets constitntingthe fannedout bank. g

In order to readily and efiectively adjust the wedge shaped plates 174 under the lateral marginal extremities of piles of sheets of diiferent widthsQthe lower. feed. 52 is provided with a plurality of grooves 175 that have an inclined face 176 in which engages the rearward pro ectingaedgzl of said1 wed I aear an uno plate174. This 'afior structed pas'sageto the sheets in .their advance along the feed board 52 and the wedge shaped plate l74. The W g shaped Plates d may be secured in any desired position-of adjustment through the bracket arm l78 ,"ad-

'justin'g' screw 179 and holes 180 in said feed board 52 in which said vadjusting" screw 179 when the feeder is fanned-out pile of sheets in a vertical plaliihig first-being loaded; it is to elevate the beneath said conical roller. The cooperative "sepa-ra'tor-unit and hold it out ofv-the way in action'of the roller 17 3 and the wedge shaped plate 174 is to form a valley in the pile of elevated positiomthis can be readilyefi'ected by manipulating the hand wheel 181 ,(Fig; 6)

a gear 183 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, I

tuted by the bevel gears illustrated in Fig. 8,'

makes it possible to adjust the two separator units independently of each other, and this is highly desirable in the event that the pile of fanned-out sheets should be presented to the separator units out of square, so that it became necessary for efiicient and eifective operation to position one separator unit in advance of a vertical plane passingthrough theother separator unit.

In order to effect this adjustment, it is necessary to move one end or the other of the square bar 135 which carries the various parts. As will be readily seen (Figs. 1, 19, and 21) this bar is carried in arms 186 depending from longitudinally extending tubes 187 that have bearings at their rear ends in brackets 188 on the side frames 33 and 34, and bearings 189 in brackets (not shown) at their front ends. These tubes 187 are slotted at 190 (as clearly shown in Fig. 1) and through these slots project lugs 191 carried by a nut 192 that is traversed through said tube by a screw shaft 193 that is rotated by a bevel gear 194 carried thereon and meshing with a bevel gear 195 mounted on a spline shaft 196. The lugs 191 engage on either side v by means of the spring 201 (Fig; 19) reactof the dependin arms 186 that carry the square bar 135. is clearly shown in Fig. 21 each end of the square bar is loosely mounted in one of the depending arms 186 by means of a screw-threaded pin 197, so that each end of said bar may move relatively to the correspending depending arm 186.

The bevel gears 194 and 195 are enclosed in a casing 198 through a slot 199 in the top of which projects a handle 200 that is connected to the bevel gear 195. This bevel gear 195 is held yieldingly in mesh with gear 194 ing against collar 202 fixed on shaft 196. The gear 195 has a spline connection with the shaft 196 so that. when the handle 200 is operated to disengage the gears 195 and 194, the shaft 196 may be rotated by either of the hand cranks 203, with which the shaft 196 is provided, so that only one of the threaded .shaft's 193 will be operated, the other remaining stationary so long as the operator holds the handle 200 in a position corresponding to the demeshing of the gears 194 and 195 on that side of the machine. Under these conditions, only oneend of the square bar 135 will be moved longitudinally of the machine to effect the movement of the separator unit on that side of the machine with respect to the separator unit on the other side of the machine which stays stationary.

When one of the separator units is thus held stationary and the other is traversed to a new position of adjustment, this is effected without disturbing or in any way changing the driving connections of thediflerential 131, 132, 136, 137 and 138. As will be seen from'an inspection of Fig. 8, the s uare bar 135 v of the bracket 134, and this hollow member carries a bearing surface 204 on which rests a bearing surface 205 carried by a bracket arm 206, through which arm the shaft 128 projects. This bracket arm is provided with an opening 207 through which the-stud 133 projects, the bracket arm 206 being pinned to the stud 133 at 208. Accordin' ly any movement of one end of the square ar 135 with respect to its other end will eifect a relative movement of the gears 132, 136, 137 and 138 with relation to the gear 131, the shaft 128 and the bracket arm 206, the latter under these conditions sliding on the hearing surface 204. It will be seen that such an passes through a hollow mem er'134a.

adjustment will in no way effect a binding I or strain on the shaft 128.

Having adjusted the two separator units to any desired position longitudinally of the machine and relatively to each other with respect to, a vertical plane passing through one of them, means are provided for readily effecting a relative transverse adjustment of the separator units for sheets of an desired width or location on the lower feed oard 52. Such lateral adjustment is efiected by means of a pair of screw-threaded shafts 208 and 209. Each shaft (see Fig 5) has hearing at one end in a bracket 210 and bracket 134 at the other end. These screw-threaded shafts project through a corresponding screwthreaded lug 211 carried on the upper bracket 143 of the separator unit. Rotation of shafts 208 and 209 is effected by any suitable means as hand cranks 212 and 213, wherebylateral adjustment of the separator units with respect to each other'is readily effected.

Sheet forwarding mwchanism, Figs. 1, 4, '10,

Y 11, 12, and 13 the invention herein disclosed, said devices,

as well as hereinafter described control mechanism therefor, arefpreferably identical in sition of adjustment on the tubeby means ofa set screw 216. The depending arms of this U-shaped bracket afford bearings for a shaft 217 on one end of which is mounted a.- pinion 218 that is oscillated by a sector 219 pivoted at 220, said sector being provided with an arm 221 (Fig. 4) carrying a roller 222 that engages in a cam groove 223 preferably formed in the face of gear 121. Through these connections acarriage 224 is reciprocated on a track bar 225 that is secured in any desired manner to one of the depending arms of the U-shaped bracket 215.

The carriage 224 is slidably mounted on the track bar 225 on which carriage the suction forwarder 227 is mounted for vertical and reciprocating motion. A link 228 is connected at one end to the shaft 217 through means of a lever 229 and at the other end is connected at 230 to the carriage 224, This linkis pr0- vided with a cam surface which is engaged by a roller 232 carried by an arm 233 pivoted at 234 to the carrier. The arm 233 carries a fork member 235 that engages the under sur face of a collzir 236 which is pinned to the tube 237 of the suction forwarder. The for- .warder mechanism thusfar described is of the general type shown and described in V Christophel Patent N0. 1,584,734.

It is sometimes desirable to provide means for straightening the sheet before it is presented to the drop rollers 214. It frequently happens that one side of the sheet will be presented between the feed roller 238 and the drop roller 214 while the other edge of the sheet is out of alinement. This condi: tion is illustrated in Fig. 13 in which the full line position 239 shows the advancing edge of the sheet out of alinement, and the dotted line position 240 shows the advancing edge 'of the sheet in alinement. Means are pro} vided whereby if the sheet approachesthe feed roller 238 in the full line position, the

sheet will be brought to the dotted line position before the drop rollers engage the same. To this end there is mounted on the carriage 224 a raclr 241 which is screwed or otherwise fixedly secured thereto. The teeth of this rack may be in form of knurling, if desired, .to permit of a close adjustment, as will hereinafter' be more fully described, Carried on one of the fixed depending arms of the inverted U-shaped bracket 215 is a member 242 provided at-its free end with arms 243 and I 244. On the arm 243 is pivoted at245 a dog 246 which is provided with a curved serratedi or knurled surface 247 that is adapted t6 en-, gage.the rack 241. 'Pivotedat248 in. the

arm 244 is a pendulum provided with two arms 249 and 250, the arm 250 engaging the under surface of the dog 246 at 251and sup-- porting the'same out'of contact or'engagement with the rack 241. The engaging-end of the arm 250 is curved to provide a cam surface 252 that engages the dog for a purpose hereinafter described. The arm 249 normally projects downwardly into one of a plurality of grooves 253 and is held in thisposition until it is engaged by the advancing edge of.

the sheet. 'When so engaged, the arm 249 is elevated thus moving the arm 250 from under the dog 246 which then drops by gravity into engagement with the rack 241, at the same time that the tail of the dog by engagement with the surface 252 of the arm 250 swings the arm 249 clear of the sheet. If the sheet is' out of alinement, and in the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 13, it will be understood that the arm of the stop mechanism for one forwarder will be engaged the advancing edge of the sheet after the arm 24%) of the stop mechanism for the other for; warder is so engaged. Accordingly it is necessary to provide means such that the actuating member for recriprocating one for-- wardemcarriage and the rack 241 secured thereto may continue its full stroke without further movementof theqtherforwardercarriage and its rack 241. Accordingly such a structure is provided in the form of a yielding connectionbetween the arm 229 and the link 228 of each forwarder carriage.

struction,-but I prefer to use an elongated spring retainer 254 in which is engaged a roller 255. Normally this roller'is held in recesses 256 provided on the two members of This yield- 1 ing connection may be of any suitable con the spring retainer, said roller occupying a said recesses until the dog 246 is lowered into engagementwith the rack 241. When the movement of the rack 241 is thus stopped, the forward movement of the arm 229 will disengage the roller 255- from the recesses256,

the remainder of the movement of the arm 229 being an idle movement. When the carriage is to be retracted through the connec-- tions described, the roller 255 will re-enter the recesses 256 and be held therein. Further as "the carriage is retracted, a laterally projecting pin 257 on the dog 246 is engaged by a curved surface 258 on the carriage which elevates the dog and permits the arm 250 to engage the underside thereof by any suitable means, as by gravity or by a flat spring259. A pair of -pins260, 261, carried by the arm 243, limit the movement of the arm 250 in its forward and backward movement. 3

.In order to cohfine the sheet, so that it will always contact the arm 249 at'the same point,

a bifurcated guard plate 262. is provided, this guard plate being fastened to the arm 244,

and the arm 249 projecting between the. bifurcated members.

Caliperbzg mechanism, Figs. 10, 16, 1'7, 18

1 and J9 Preferably a calipering mechanism is employed which will operate to stop the feeding of the sheets in the event that more than one sheet is fed at the same time. To this end means are provided for automatically cutting off the suction to the sheet separators and the forwarders when the caliper is operated, and also to automatically lock the drop rollers in elevated position.

The calipcring elements are preferably constituted by a lower rotary wheel 263 and an upper sheet engaging shoe 264. The wheel 263 is splined on shaft 265 and has a bearing in the caliper casting at 266and. also 1n the frame 32 of the machine. This shaft 265 carries a gear 267 and is driven fromshaft 119 through gears 268, 269 and 270, so that shaft 265 is continuously rotated in counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 16.

The caliper casting, which is movable as a unit, is mounted on stay shaft 36, being provided with depending arms 271.and 272' and webs 273 and 274, between which the shaft 265 projects. The web 27 4 is provided with a vertical stiffening member 275. A shoe 276 is fastened to the stiffening member 275 at 277 and 278 through adjustable pin and slot connections. The upper calipering member 264 is pref erably of hardened steel and is fastened to one arm 279 of a lever.which is pivoted on a pin 280, the other arm 281 'ofsaid lever being connected to an arm 282 by means of a spring 283. An adjusting screw 284 is provided to adjust the position of the member 264 with relation to the lower calipering member 263. The arm 282 is preferably formed integrally with a sleeve 285 that is carried by a stub shaft 286, a gear 287 being fixedly secured to saidsleeve. This gear 287 meshes with a second gear 288 carried by a shaft 289. As will b observed the stub shaft 286 and the shaft 2 9 have bearings in the stiffening rib 275 of the calip'ering castin If more than one sheet endeavors to pass %etween the calipering elements 263 and 264, the shoe 264 will be moved toward the left as seen in Fig. 16 and, through the connections described,

. v will rotate the gear 288 in a counterclockwise direction, thus swinging a detent290 toward the right as seen in Fig. 16, and}; s moving said detent out of engagement w'i 291 which is pivoted on a pin 292 in one arm 293 of a bell-crank lever that is carried by shaft289. The pendant 291 is gravity actuated toi move, under these conditions, toward the right',"a's' seen in Fig. 16, so that the tooth.

294 provided at the lower end thereof will engage a ratchet wheel 295 which is mounted on the continuously rotating shaft 265. Ac-

cordingly the pendant 291 will be moved downwardly, and with it the arm 293 of the crank being moved to the left as seen in Fig. 16. This bell-crank is operated not only to cut off the suction to the sheet separating mecha nism and the forwarders, but also to elevate the drop roller. The suction is controlled by a movable disc 297 which is fixedly mounted on a stub shaft 298 (Fig. 10) which stub shaft has bearings in the side frame 32 and casting 299, said disc'being mounted between the side frame 32 and said casting 299. The disc 297 is provided with an opening 300 which is normally in register at one side with the suction side of the pump, and on the other side with the piping-to the sheet separating mechanism and the forwarders. Movement of the arm 296 of the bell-crank operates through a link 301 which is connected at one end to said arm 296 and at the other end to a pin 302 carried by said disc to move the same so that the orifice 300 therein will no longer be in register with the suction conduits,

an imperforate part of the surface of the disc 297 being then presented to the piping that leads from the pump and also the conduits leading to the sheet separating and forwarding mechanism, with the result that the entire suction connection is broken.

This disc 297 is preferably provided on its periphery with a cam surface 303 which 1s engaged by a roller 304 carried in an arm 305 of a bell-crank lever loosely mounted on shaft 306, the other arm 307 of said bell-crank lever having an adjustable connection to an arm 308 which is secured to shaft 306. To

the lower end of the arm 307 there is con-- as seen in Fig. 16, the arm 307, through theconnections described, will also move toward the left carrying with it the arm 308, moving the arm 308 off center sufficiently to permit a snap action of the spring 310, theeifect being that the drop rollers 214 which are carried byshaft 316 mounted in lesie'cured on shaft- 306 will be'raised out of feeding engagement with the sheets, and held in that position until the calipering mechanism is manually reset. This resetting is effected by an arm 318 mounted on shaft 298 which also operates to reset the disc 297 and thus again establish the suction connections from the pump to the sheet separating and .arms 317.

' bell-crank, the other arm 296 of said bell- 

